WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

[guestservices]

W̴͍̎E̴̝̊E̸͚͝K̸͕̿ ZERO: MINGLE

(35 ḡ̴̻u̷͌͜ê̴̯s̶̢͑t̵̻͝s̴̡̐ ̴c̴h̴e̶c̴k̷e̶d̸ ̶i̴n̴)

Needless to say, marble isn't exactly the most comfortable surface to sleep on. Do you even remember falling asleep? Maybe not, but the moment your eyes flutter open and the lingering stardust fades, you come into consciousness with the distinct feeling that your dreams were very important.

You vaguely remember a shadowed hand, the pen and the scroll in its grip as the terms and conditions glow softly before you. You can't quite remember the details, the words blurring and fading fasting the longer you try, but you come to a conclusion rather quickly:

-Someone you care about is in trouble and their life is now your responsibility.
-You have signed a contract to provide entertainment to the Host in exchange for their safe return.

Your other memories begin to settle now that you're more awake. You remember that this isn't the first time you've been swept away for a game by someone else's design. You remember what those games entailed, too, but as the pieces click together you get the sense that murdering everyone around you isn't a solution. It won't get your hostage back sooner. It will only end tragically for everyone involved.

So instead, perhaps it's time to take in your surroundings. Where the hell even are you now? The marble floor of the lobby is still cool to the touch, and the front desk is before you with several keys on hooks against the wall. Each of them includes a keychain with two small, clear star-shaped crystals embedded at the bottom. Too bad you can't seem to remove the keys just yet! Guest accommodations aren't quite ready.

Ah, right. About that. You aren't alone! After all, what's the fun in playing a game by yourself? Should one try to actually count the keys hanging on the wall, you'll find there are 35 in total. You can also learn more about them should you look at the leather-bound book bolted to the front desk. Though some of them may look a bit different, seeing how everyone gathered in the lobby is dressed to the nines. What happened to your other clothing? Worry not. You do want to be presentable at the front desk, don't you?

Speaking of the front desk, while you aren't able to retrieve your keys or even leave the ground floor right now, you will find small gift boxes scattered around the desk as a complementary gift for each guest. Inside these boxes, you will find:

-A flask. Those of legal drinking age will find it filled with a sweet wine, and those underage will find juice of some kind.
-A shaving kit
- A single aspirin
-A keychain
-A condolence card
-A sheet of temporary tattoos
-A small bag of jerky
-A compact mirror with a cute pattern on the outer casing

No other items are on your person even if you were holding onto them prior to your arrival. Perhaps the bellhop has already taken your luggage for you?

But despite the front desk hosting a small cluster of bells, ringing them doesn't seem to draw the attention of anyone. The bells cannot be removed from the desk, but the hotel staff appears to be occupied with other tasks.

It looks as though you're on your own for now until maintenance is finished. But it's just like the first time, isn't it? Get to know the other guests, start asking questions, and settle in for your stay.

You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave...

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

█ LOCATIONS █ STATUSES █ PROFILES █ AUDIENCES
█ REPORTING █ PRIVATE CONVOS █ MURDER

Comments

ii

[agleam]

[he makes a noise of alarm and immediately pulls it off his face. goodbye sticky hand.]

What the heck—?!

[evocationary]

Nice catch. [teehee] Ten points for catching it with your face. Unorthodox, but nice!

[agleam]

I feel like I didn't really do anything but get smacked in the face with - wait, actually, what did you just throw at my face...

[what is a sticky hand]

And, like. More importantly, why.

[evocationary]

Funsies.

[she tilts her head.] And it's a sticky hand, never seen one?

[agleam]

Funsies...

[he sounds deeply skeptical as he says that but he moves past it quickly enough.]

Can't say I have. I'm guessing they're just a toy...? A really weird toy.

[evocationary]

Yeah, a really weird, fun toy. Here, you try. Stick it on something. [this is coping]

[agleam]

[if she hands it to him he is going to lightly try to slap it onto her face.]

[evocationary]

[aljsljdf RUPERT

she just does the :man standing: emoji, and then:] Okay, fair! Fair's fair. I like you.

[agleam]

[with a small laugh:]

Now we're even! My name's Rupert, by the way.

[evocationary]

You got me good, so you can have my actual name, which is Lup. Which one are you from?

[agleam]

What, would you have given me a fake name if I missed?

[he sounds amused, but that fades from his voice as he continues.]

Has anyone told you about the school one yet?

[evocationary]

Yeeeeeup. [absolutely.]

That's the one with the story, right?

[agleam]

Okay, but now you absolutely have to tell me what it would have been.

[that's said with a laugh before he moves on.]

Yeah, that's the one. How about you?

[evocationary]

[opens mouth

closes mouth

then opens it again:] Hah, he's not here to tell me I can't call it this - the Indulgence Center! The uh, the station, I guess. The one with the furby overlord.

[she'll get back to the name thing in a second]

[agleam]

[a decent pause.]

Am I going to regret asking what a furby overlord is? I feel like I'm going to regret asking what a furby overlord is.

[evocationary]

Oh yeah, absolutely. It's a giant flesh-computer amalgamation with a toddler voice and a penchant for wanting to play Barbies with real people.

Was. Is? I'm not sure now.

[agleam]

Wow. I understood none of that but I kind of hated it anyways.

[evocationary]

Yeah! That's the vibe!

[agleam]

Did you defeat it, at least...? Or - are you not sure, given the uncertain tenses you used there for a second.

[evocationary]

I thought we did. It seemed pretty dead.

... It's just, we're here in this place. And I wouldn't put it past the thing to take hostages, so.

[agleam]

Well... If that were the case, wouldn't it only be people from your group?

[evocationary]

Maybe. [she starts braiding her hair, absently.] It's just that mine had two rounds, with uh, with different people each time? So...

[agleam]

...Wait, so you've gone through this twice already?

[instant concern]

[evocationary]

I guess so, yeah. I mean, it was all one long experience? I didn't go home or anything.

[agleam]

That's horrible... I'm so sorry. How long was it, altogether?